Models and methods for determining the optimal number of beds in hospitals and regions: a systematic scoping review

Table 5 Comparison of the models’ advantages and challenges

		Score model	Capacity model	Basic scenario model	CHUV model	SHO model	The Greater Glasgow model	Israeli model	The Trends in Acute Care Bed Use model	Current Use Projection Model	The Status Quo model	Michigan’s Bed Need model
Advantages	Investigates future demographic changes			*	*	*	*	*	*	*		*
	Easy estimation	*									*
	Considers regional population distribution							*	*	*
	Considers population age and sex composition			*			*	*	*	*
	Estimates bed requirements by the type of clinical specialties		*		*	*	*	*	*	*		*
	Considers trends in hospital service utilization		*		*	*			*
	Considers performance and efficiency of hospital						*
	Accounts for patient migration					*	*		*
	Considers medical and technological advances						*		*
	Considers care models and standards		*				*
	Considers emergency cases and future trends						*
	Considers various scenarios		*	*	*	*
	Considers seasonal effects		*
	Easy to use	*
	A software is available	*
challenges	Requires accurate and comprehensive data											*
	Difficulty of demographic predictions	NA	NA	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	NA	*
	Difficulty of predicting patterns of hospital service utilization		*		*	*			*
	Does not account for policy changes overtimes	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
	Overestimation of required bed numbers							*	*
	Difficulty of mapping scenarios	NA	*	*	*	*	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	Does not assign weightings to the parameters	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
	Needs a simulation software	*

ISSN: 1472-6963